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More Revelation commentaries
Revelation 15:1-8
The day of judgment is coming
Revelation 16:1-12
The Bowl Judgments
Revelation 16:13-21
The great battle called Armagedon
Revelation 17:1-8
The destruction of Babylon
Revelation 17:9-18
The Beast assumes world political power
Revelation 18:1-8
The fall of political Babylon
Revelation 18:9-19
The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall
Revelation 18:20-24
Babylon will be destroyed suddenly
Revelation 19:1-9
The marriage supper of the Lamb
Revelation 19:10-16
Christ on a white horse
Revelation 19:17-21
The Beast and His Armies Defeated
Revelation 20:1-6
Life in the Millennium will be peaceful
Revelation 20:7-10
Rebellion at the end of the Millennium
Revelation 20:11-15
The Great White Throne Judgment
Revelation 21:1-8
The New Heaven and the New Earth
Revelation 21:9-21
The beauty of the New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:22-27
Is your name written in the Lambs Book of Life?
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The fall of political Babylon
Revelation 18:1–8
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Ancient Babylon reached its greatest glory during King Nebuchadnezzar (604-562 BC). The city was divided into two equal parts by the River Euphrates. It had 25 avenues, 150 feet wide, which ran across the city from north to south. The same number crossed them at right angles from … More
The fall of political Babylon is announced in the beginning verses of chapter 18. This comes immediately after the destruction of the harlot (Religious Babylon) in chapter 17 which causes many to think that these are one and the same event. However, there are several things that point to the fact they are two different events, though described in similar terms. It seems that the fall of religious Babylon is followed later by the fall of commercial and political Babylon.
The woman of chapter 17 is made desolate, naked, and burned with fire by the beast with the ten horns, whereas the fall of Babylon in chapter 18 is accomplished directly by God at the end of the Tribulation (16:19-21). This chapter continues with the subject of God’s judgement on Babylon. It is proper to think of Babylon in chapter 17 as a vast religious system and now in chapter 18 as a huge interlocking commercial system. This chapter spells out the doom of so called civilization in its social and commercial aspects. Further destruction of Babylon is prophesied by “another angel coming down from heaven” (v. 1). This angel’s power and glory was such that the earth was illuminated by his splendor. Several commentaries suggest that this is Christ represented as Angel-Priest and Avenger.
“Another voice” (angel) from heaven is heard instructing the people of God to leave the city in order to be delivered from the coming catastrophe (v. 4). Death, mourning, famine and fire will come on the city in one day (v. 8).
Application
It would be very easy for me to become more wrapped up in what the world has to offer than in what the Bible has to say about the future. I must keep in mind that it is only the things done for Christ that will last.
Revelation 18:1-8 (English Standard Version)
After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living." Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, 'I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.' For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her."
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